INO AND BACCHUS (Daguerreotype Stereoview)

Preston, England: George Cartwright, 1852. Rare original daguerreotype stereoview picturing the plaster sculpture by Irish-born sculptor John Henry Foley ( 1818-1874) that was exhibited at the 1851 Great Exhibition in the Crystal Palace. An albumen print by Claude-Marie Ferrier is featured in Anthony Hamber's monumental work, Photography and the 1851 Great Exhibition, but the photographer for this daguerreotype stereoview is as yet unidentified. Hamber mentions that the Victoria and Albert Museum has a copy of this stereoview in their collection. Strangely enough the V&A misidentifies the image as "Bacchus Being Fed Grapes by [Venus?]" and makes no mention of the Foley sculpture. That is the only other copy of this daguerreotype stereoview I have been able to locate. On the verso of our stereoview is Cartwright's label as well as a handwritten identification of the subject. The daguerreotype is in excellent condition, with no bleeding at the edges. The cloth backing is original and undisturbed, though there is some evidence of the usual separation of the glass from the black painted border surrounding the daguerreotype.. First Edition. Glass. Very Good+. 3 3/4" by 6 3/4". Photo.